OT: Checking in - YouLookFab Forum

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OT: Checking in

Maya

Veteran

Hello.

I know I have been gone for a long time, but I have the week off from work and so have a moment to send an update.

I have gone through some personal drama/trauma and I'm in recovery mode now. It has been a very hard five months and I'm pretty drained.

Currently I am prepping to start looking for a new job and that keeps me busy. Given that my work situation is the cause of my stress and woes, I would like to think that finding a new job would mean I can resume life as usual--and that means YLF.

My interest in style has gone through a lot of ups and downs. Some days I feel like I'm back into the swing of things, and other days it's the last thing in the world that I care about. Money is very tight so I don't really have a lot of discretionary spending anyway, and I'm just not invested/interested enough to play around in my closet right now.

Recently, though, I *did* finally find the elusive sweater dress, after about FIVE YEARS of searching:

http://www.loft.com/loft/produ.....Color=6600

My mom got it for me as a Christmas gift, so I will have to wait before I can wear it.

I have also managed to come around to heels every so often. I can't do them for a day of city walking, nor could I wear them every day, but I can manage better than I expected to. I have been looking for some dressy heeled boots and settled on these:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/produ.....PDKIKX0DER

I have been steadily growing my hair and taken the advice of several curly-haired YLFers, and the pictures attached show the results (without product and with, respectively). It's still not what I think most would call "curly" but it has come a long way.

I'm also attaching Halloween costume pictures--especially for Julie.

I know a lot of you have PMed me and I haven't been responsive. I often check things on my phone or ipad and then forget to reply later when I'm back on my computer. But I have read everyone's messages and do appreciate the interest/concern.

That is all. I hope you are all well. Please feel free to post updates about yourselves here...

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General

41 replies

Latest reply was from Patty

bella

(website)

Veteran

Hey Maya, it's so good to see you on the forum! I hope your work issues get resolved soon and you can get back on YLF more often.
Your hair looks amazing, and your halloween costume is super fun!
Big smiles!

Ana

(website)

Veteran

Hi Maya! I was wondering if you were still around! Thank you for posting this update.

It sounds like you and I are in the same boat/attitude fashion-wise, so I totally get where you're coming from. I think I was around when you began your sweater dress quest, so I'm very excited that you finally found one that works for you! : D Also, those boots are amazing and your hair is beautiful!

I hope you are able to get everything sorted soon. Good luck with the job hunt. I hope to "see" you on the forum again very soon. Hugs.

Mo

(website)

Veteran

Glad to hear from you! I have uncertain work issues in my near future as well, and it is unnerving. Thanks for checking in. And your hair looks GREAT!!

velvetychocolate

Veteran

Just wanted to say that you look stunning with the longer hair - wow!

goldenpig

(website)

Veteran

Glad things are starting to look up for you. Good luck with the job hunt. Your hair is so beautiful and what a cool peacock costume! Nice sweaterdress--can't wait to see you wear it!

Refugee

Veteran

Oh, there you are! I have missed you. I understand when life happens, and I have not been here near as much as I wish I could be. Your hair is amazing. And heels? Things have changed with you! Just know there is someone out here in the fly-over zone that thinks of you and smiles whenever she irons. Love you!

Michelle

(website)

Veteran

Damn, is it ever great to see your name on the forum again!!! (pics too, nach, for everyone else).
Hang in there, dear girl...All shall be well. And we all love you!

Scarlet

Veteran

Hi Maya, it's nice to hear from you. Your hair looks amazing, but OMG that is one of the best halloween costume I have every seen. I am crossing my fingers for you that you will find a better work situation soon. That sounds really rough.

Kari

Veteran

Maya! Holy cow, first Ana returns to check in with the forum, and now you. This *is* a good week! I have missed you - not only seeing your trials & experiments as your style evolved, but also just for the spice & humor that you added by being here. I hope you'll check in now and then, even if not necessarily to post about style or fashion.

I've been thinking about you a lot, especially as I've been going through some incredibly dark periods of my own a couple months ago, and hoping that things were improving for you. I'm glad that you are recovering but am sorry to hear that it has been so rough. I hate to think of you going through a tough time while living alone. Wish I could give you a big hug.

Your hair looks SO incredibly good - healthy and really, really flattering your large, dark eyes and perfectly shaped brows. The curly-haired regimen you're using must really be working!

I'll be wishing you well on your job search. I am very much in the same boat - after being very stressed all year, and finally having a break when I went to Toronto, I've come to the decision that this job is just not working for me any longer and I have no way to move upwards or do anything different unless I leave the company - so that's my next step. But job searching is so draining, especially when you aren't always feeling so hot about yourself. I'm trying to rev myself up to get into exuberant-Kari-optimistic-job-seeker mode.

Please feel welcome to reach out if you need to. I got such a kick out of hearing your voice when I was hanging out with Michelle in Toronto! Hopefully someday it'll be face-to-face.

Louise

Veteran

Maya good to see you check in, sorry for your turbulant time. Your hair is looking fantastic, both with and without product. Hope things continue to get better (((hugs))) x

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Maya, it is so good to hear an update from you. I've wondered how you're doing. I was in NYC with family a few days ago and thought of you.

Best of luck in the job search -- you deserve a wonderful opportunity, and I'm sure you will find it. I'm sorry things have still been a struggle, but it will get better. We're here for you!

Your hair looks fantastic and makes me want to encourage the curly tendencies of my unruly mop. And that is an excellent Halloween costume!

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

I'm so glad to hear an update from you Maya- I've missed your voice here. Your hair looks gorgeous! I hope you find a new job soon, and that we can see more of you soon!

Anonymous

Your hair is amazingly beautiful, Maya! I hope everyone's kind words will be healing to you and that you begin to feel as confident as you look. Good luck with the job search and moving on with your life.

Debora

Veteran

Maya, it's wonderful to hear from you. You've been missing from the forum but not our thoughts. I hope things continue to improve for you and good luck with your job search. Your hair looks absolutely beautiful and it's so good to see your lovely face. I love the items that you linked to.

marianna

Veteran

Hi, Maya! It's really good to hear from you again. Take care of yourself and I hope things improve for you soon.

Claudia

Veteran

**Waving at Maya** Here's sincerely hoping that 2012 is a much better year for you -- and for many, many folks. These have been stressful times for a lot of us.

Your hair is looking great.

Diana

Veteran

Hi Maya! It's good to see you here again. You are looking really beautiful. Your hair is gorgeous. =)

I'm sorry to hear about the job woes and I hope you find a new, happier one soon. Good luck with everything.

Queen Mum

Veteran

maya- it is so good to see you here. I'm so sorry for what you have been going through. I wish you the very best in your job search.
But holy smokes, your hair is GORGEOUS!!!!! I just love it!!!

morethanbeige

Veteran

Maya, so good to hear from you. Sorry for your stressful, rough time. Good luck on new job search. Having a good job to go to makes such a difference. You are looking amazing. Gorgeous hair. And totally fun costume.

Anonymous

Maya, it's great to see your post and hope all works out soon for you. You look beautiful! I remember when you were looking for a shampoo without SLS (I think it was you). May I ask what you are using? Your hair looks so shiny and healthy.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Good to see you on the forum again, Maya. I know that things have been very tough, and my heart goes out to you. Hang in there, and we are here if you need us. (We really miss you).

KILLER peacock costume. I love it!

Hope that we see you in that fabulous sweater dress soon, along with the amazing new boots.

Loving the long curly locks!

Jonesy

Veteran

Maya! How wonderful to see you! I am so glad that you are recovering and starting to feel better. A new job sounds like just the ticket.

Your hair looks super-healthy, beautiful, and glorious, and that Halloween costume is out of this world! I hope to see you around a bit: I miss your personality and wit.

crwilson

Veteran

Maya - It's so nice to see your face. I'm sorry that things have been rough - I hope that things smooth out soon. Your hair looks amazing, as does your peacock costume.

Isabel

Veteran

HI Maya ! Great to hear from you. I think about you a lot. I figured that when you were ready you would drop us a note.

Hang in there !

Lisa

Veteran

Ack! Look at that gorgeous head of hair! Super! I love it! It's great to hear from you. I wish you a speedy job search to help ease your work woes. Sending some hugs!

Debbie

Veteran

I have been wondering about you. Your hair looks beautiful. Glad you found your dress. I hope things go well with your job.

Sveta

(website)

Veteran

Maya, it is so nice to have you back, we missed you. I hope your dark period is coming to the end and it will be all uphill after that! Good luck with your job search!
I love your longer hair - with product and without. Your peacock costume is totally amazing! And I am sure that sweater dress will be fab on you as well.

annagybe

(website)

Veteran

Hair is amazing. Welcome back and good luck on your job search.

Maya

Veteran

Thank you all so much for the warm welcomes and compliments! It does make a difference. It's so nice to "see" familiar faces--even if I can't actually see them.

Refugee, I'm so pleased you think of me when ironing. I still loathe doing it, but I have gotten much better at it (well, maybe not great, but I can do a serviceable job...).

Ana, it's great to see you posting after so long (and with brown hair, no less!).

Kari, I'm so sorry to hear you were going through a dark period too. It sucks, but it also motivates us to change for the better.

It was great to hear you while you were in Toronto. Wish I wasn't at work so I could have had a proper conversation. It is REALLY hard to get into job search mode, but I have a lot of incentives and I hope you do too. I just wish I was something other than a designer sometimes. It's so irritating that so much prep work needs to be done. I can't just do a quick update to my resume and start applying. Nooo. I have to update my brand and get my portfolio together in 9 different formats. It's so frustrating! At least it keeps me busy though. Hang in there!

You are all the best ever. I wish I could live on an island with ONLY YLFers.

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